EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva today
announced the results of a new EU wide survey on e-commerce and cross border
trade. The figures show that even though e-commerce is taking off at national
level, cross-border e-commerce is failing to keep pace. From 2006 to 2008, the
share of all EU consumers that have bought at least one item over the internet
has increased significantly (from 27% to 33%) whilst cross border e-commerce is
stable (6% to 7%). The pattern is similar for those with internet access at
home - 56% of consumers with internet at home have made a purchase (in any
country including their own) by e-commerce compared to 50% in 2006, while only
13% (of those with internet access at home) made a cross-border e-commerce
purchase compared to 12% in 2006.

“These figures underline how much work we still have to do to boost
confidence in the online internal market" said European Consumer Affairs
Commissioner Meglena Kuneva. "Consumers and retailers are beginning to embrace
e-commerce at national level but internal market barriers still persist online.
The potential of the online internal market to deliver greater choice and lower
price to consumers and new markets for retailers is considerable. We need to
redouble our efforts to tackle the remaining borders."

Amongst retailers, the cross-border potential of e-commerce seems not to have
been fulfilled: 51% of EU27 retailers sell via the internet, but only 17 % of
e-commerce revenue of those who sell cross-border stems from cross-border sales
– as compared to 16% in 2006. There appears to be a lack of confidence in
cross-border shopping on both sides of the market, although consumer confidence
appears to be growing: while 37% of consumers said they would be more confident
making online purchases from sellers/providers located in their own country, 57%
said they are equally or even more confident making purchases online from
sellers in another EU country. This figure is up by 8% compared to the 2006
survey.

The report published today was compiled from two Eurobarometer surveys on
Businesses and Consumer attitudes to cross border trade. Data gathering was
carried out in February – March 2008 amongst more than 26.000 consumers
and 7.200 businesses in the 27 EU-countries and Norway.

Key Figures:

In 2006 27% of European consumers had made a purchase over the internet -
33% had done so in 2008.

In 2006 6% had made a cross border purchase over the internet – this
figure is stable as 7% had done so in 2007.

13% of consumers with internet access had traded cross border via the
internet compared to only 7 % in the general population. The corresponding
figure for 2006 was 12% of those with internet access as opposed to 6% of those
in the general population.

37% of respondents that said they would be more confident making online
purchases from sellers/providers located in their own country. This figure is
down 8 % since the 2006 survey.

57% said they are equally or even more confident making purchases online
from sellers in another EU country. This figure is up by 8% compared to the 2006
survey.

51% of EU27 retailers sell via the internet – this figure is however
down from 2006 where 57% of retailers reported to use e-commerce.

Retailers estimate that 17 % of their e-commerce revenue stems from cross
border sales – the corresponding figure for 2006 was 16%.